God knows what I need...

...even cardboard tubes. Yes, I had a bad migraine yesterday...and God provided help for me...in the form of a twenty foot cardboard tube found in my neighbor's trash.
It provided a good many hours of fun for my two Sweet Boobahs...so that I could take my migraine medicine and chill out while it took hold! Which it did...again thank the Lord!!
And while I was formulating this blog entry on God's unfailing love for me....I discovered a chipmunk in my dining room. Okay... NO, I wasn't particularly thankful for that chipmunk...but I was VERY grateful that God allowed our good friends Grandma Pat and Grandpa Bob to be home...so he could come and rescue me---and get it OUT of our house! Phew!

Apple Butter and Applesauce! Yummo!!

Well, thankfully DadE loves MomE and bought her this nifty gadget for her kitchenaide...PHEW! Without it I'd have lots more blisters than I actually do...which is 3 in case you're interested!
Here's my set up. I'm so thankful for nice cool mornings...when I could open up the house and not feel so beastly hot! Steaming facials FREE here!!
Here is my crab apple jelly stash (which did set up after all...hey hey)...and my 9 pints of apple butter that were cranked out by that metal contraption of EVIL!
Here is today's gorgeous haul...9 applesauce and 9 more apple butter (with Splenda)...Yummo!
The clean up...not so much fun!

Patch PeeWees...awww!

I just had to share...both of my sweet boobahs...are now PeeWee pirates! Arrr...I mean, Awww! Their sashes were at church...so, yes...I know they aren't quite in uniform...but still pretty cute!!

Apple Picking...Phew!

The weather was beautiful Saturday morning...and we all went apple picking. It was about 70 with a nice breeze and this year no bees!
We munched as we picked...mostly Cortlands and Jonathans...we'll come back later for some Jonagolds (MomE's favorite)...
Poor DadE had BAD allergies but picked apples anyway. Poor guy!!
We picked two bushels...and I was even warned not to pick too many at once...but I don't listen sooooo....
NOW I'm dehydrating, blanching and apple-buttering to beat the band. Phew...I'm tired!
My house smells awesome though...no candles needed!

Soggy Brooks BBQ?

Our sweet cousins Joe and Luanne (and Joe's Dad) came through the icky rain one Sunday to hear me sing and eat lunch with us. We had planned to get together with them when we visited NY. Somehow, I had a much dryer time in mind.
Emma is such a sweet and darling girl. She wanted to hold his hand...and it actually worked cuz he was right handed and she is left handed! HA!
Nana didn't think she was wet enough...so she dumped her ice water on her foot! Woohoo!
The Brook's BBQ was still WONDERFUL! It was nice to be able to see family...even a bit damp...it was a warm time!

The Wedding-or seeing the white princess...

The nice guy who accompanies me while I'm at my Grandparent's church got married. They didn't know we were going to be there...but extended us a very gracious invitation when they found out we'd be there for their big day.
It was beautiful!
Emma referred to her as "the white princess." They tried to get her to stand between them but she was having none of that...she only wanted to hold "the white princess' hand." HA!
I'm glad we had her sit on the aisle...she got to see everything! They were both very good during the ceremony. Caleb did drop one of my bracelets and it rolled to the front of the church...but I knew a lot of people there...and they found it afterward and gave it back!

Assorted Vacation Activities...

My Grandma taught kindergarten for 30 + years...and her team teacher (who continued with her class after she retired...and is now retired herself) comes over in the summers to work puzzles.
This jigsaw is one of the hardest I've worked on in a LONG time. When Mrs. Kelly saw Emma she said, "Oh, Emma...you are the image of your mother!" And as all kindergarten teachers do...she oozes that special child magnetic vibe...Emma sat on her lap and cuddled her during most of the rest of her visit!
Out the kitchen window we saw a mother deer and her fawn...the mother went behind the tree before we got the flash turned off! They can hear you...through the walls. WOW!
We also saw two turkeys...Darren wanted one for Thanksgiving...but Grandpa pointed out that it's not turkey season!
We had our traditional camp out! It was fun...yet smokey. It seemed that no matter where we sat the wind blew the smoke in our faces. *sigh*
Yummy...burgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob in the coals...and yes, we had smores but were so sticky no one could touch the camera! HAHAHA!